firearms charges filed against five from the mahoning valley

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Oct. 11, 2012

Criminal charges were filed in U.S. District Court charging five men from the Mahoning Valley with violating federal firearms laws, said Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio.

Herring was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On July 25, 2012, he was arrested with a Mossberg 12-gauge shotgun and ammunition, despite a previous conviction for aggravated burglary, according to the indictment.

James was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On Aug. 13, 2012, he was arrested with a Ruger .45-caliber pistol and ammunition, despite a previous conviction for aggravated robbery.

Jordan was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. On March 10, 2012, he was arrested with a .357-caliber revolver and ammunition, despite a previous conviction for felonious assault.

Oliver was charged with making false statements to a federally licensed firearms dealer. On June 14, 2012, Oliver falsely stated that he was not a convicted felon on this ATF form 4473 when he tried to purchase a Mossberg .22-caliber rifle from Buckeye Firearms in Austintown, Ohio, according to the indictment.

Williams was charged with possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. On Aug. 20, 2012, Williams possessed a Ruger .45-caliber pistol with an obliterated serial number, according to the indictment.

These cases are being prosecuted by Assistant United States David M. Toepfer following investigations by Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the Youngstown Police Department.

An indictment is only a charge and is not evidence of guilt. The defendants are entitled to a fair trial in which it will be the government’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.